German midfielder Lennart Karl has been ruled out of the World Cup after sustaining a muscle injury during training, the German Football Association (DFB) confirmed on Thursday. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder suffered a torn muscle in the final stages of a training session, immediately before Germany’s final warm-up match against the United States in Chicago.
The DFB stated that Karl’s injury is serious enough to exclude him from the tournament. In an official post shared via Instagram, the association confirmed the severity of the muscle tear and extended its support to the player, while announcing that AS Monaco midfielder Assan Ouédraogo has been called up as his replacement.
Karl had been regarded as one of Germany’s most promising young talents following an impressive season with Bayern Munich. He also holds the record as the youngest goalscorer in the club’s Champions League history. Over the course of the season, he featured prominently in Bayern’s domestic and European campaigns, making 39 appearances in all competitions and scoring nine goals, including five in 26 Bundesliga matches.
Internationally, Karl made his senior debut for Germany in March and has since earned three caps. In the previous week’s friendly against Finland, he started the match and delivered a strong performance, contributing to a goal. His rapid integration into the national side had led to expectations that he would play a significant role in the World Cup squad.
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann acknowledged the seriousness of the injury prior to the official confirmation, noting that the situation did not appear positive during training and that further assessment was required. The DFB subsequently confirmed Karl’s withdrawal and his replacement in the squad.
Under tournament regulations, teams are permitted to replace a player suffering from a serious injury or illness up to 24 hours before their opening match kick-off. Germany will begin their World Cup campaign against Curaçao on 14 June in Group E.
In a separate development, Nagelsmann confirmed that Germany will not take any risks with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the friendly against the United States. The 40-year-old Bayern Munich goalkeeper is recovering from a muscle injury sustained last month and remains under medical observation.
Neuer had initially retired from international football following the 2024 European Championship but later reversed his decision and returned to the national setup. His absence from recent matches means he is expected to feature in a major tournament without having played an international match for nearly two years.
In his absence, Oliver Baumann has been Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper and started in the friendly against Finland last week.
Key personnel updates
| Player | Age | Position | Club | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lennart Karl | 18 | Attacking midfielder | Bayern Munich | Ruled out (muscle tear) |
| Assan Ouédraogo | 20 | Midfielder | RB Leipzig | Named replacement |
| Manuel Neuer | 40 | Goalkeeper | Bayern Munich | Under assessment (injury) |
| Oliver Baumann | — | Goalkeeper | Hoffenheim | First-choice in recent match |
Germany’s squad adjustments come shortly before the start of their World Cup campaign in Group E, as the team finalises preparations following these injury-related changes.